Shauna Corr

Police have issued a video appeal for information after a prison officer was seriously injured when a bomb exploded under his vehicle in East Belfast this morning.

“The people who did this set out to kill,” said Assistant Chief Constable Stephen Martin.

The van at the centre of the bombing

“We are very worried about the threat level at this time - there are people in dissident republican grouping who want to try and kill police officers, prison officers or soldiers.

“Easter is a very significant time in the calendar, this year is the 100th anniversary of the Easter Rising.

“We are working very hard with groups across Northern Ireland who want to celebrate the Easter Rising. We will do what we can to ensure a peaceful Easter,”

“However, there are those within the dissident republican community who want to mark the centenary in an entirely more sinister way - by killing police officers, by killing soldiers or by killing prison officers.”

ACC Martin has called on the public to support the PSNI.

“We need your support,” he said. “If you any information that can help, please call us on 101.”